Republicans are set to take the stage Wednesday night for their third presidential debate focusing on the economy.
For many candidates who have been touting their business background and job creation experience, it gives them an opportunity to hopefully flex their muscles. And others will need to seize an opportunity to show that they can handle economic concerns, which remain atop voters' minds.
But the face-off could also showcase deep divides within the GOP itself — with Republicans on Capitol Hill debating a budget deal that could remove the threat of a government shutdown until after the election, not all candidates are on board.
Notably, both Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul have spoken out forcefully against the deal, with Paul coming out late Tuesday pledging to filibuster new debt ceiling bill. "It is horrible, it's hard for me not to use profanity describing," he said.
The main debate, featuring 10 candidates, will begin at 8 p.m. ET in Boulder, Colo., and will be broadcast on CNBC. The earlier debate, featuring four candidates, will air at 6 p.m. ET.
Donald Trump
Need: Policy specifics on economic reforms and a message beyond just his business experience
Avoid: Scuffles with other candidates and arguing about poll numbers
The billionaire businessman will again be center stage on Wednesday evening, but his grasp on the main spot is as tenuous as ever. His lead as slipped in Iowa to Ben Carson, and the soft-spoken neurosurgeon also passed him in his first national poll this week.
It's something that's obviously getting under Trump's skin, as he's taken to cable and Twitter to insist he's not dropping. But the often-volatile candidate shouldn't spend any time on it during the debate — and if he does it could look out of place in what is expected to be a policy-heavy debate otherwise.
And if Trump's business background makes him the most experienced person to tackle the economy, this type of debate should be his bread and butter. He's already released an expansive tax reform plan, and he should be ready to defend it from other GOP attacks. But he'll also need to outline his plans for entitlement reform and how he would plan to pay for some of his other costly proposals — mainly his ambitious immigration reform plan.
Ben Carson
Need: Show competency when discussing the economy, engage more and be aggressive when appropriate
Avoid: Mistakes on economic specifics and fading into the background
Despite an unremarkable debate performance last month, Carson has continued to surge and is now neck-and-neck with Trump. But his continued rise even higher means the pressure is on the soft-spoken doctor more than ever.
And on the evening's main topic of the economy, Carson has had some missteps recently. In an interview with "Marketplace"'s Kai Ryssdal earlier this month, Carson seemed confused over the debt ceiling. Now, he says he wouldn't sign any bill to raise it as president. He will also be forced to defend his plan to replace Medicaid and Medicare.
But more than anything, Carson has to just be a part of the debate. He largely was irrelevant in the CNN debate last month after a strong showing in the first debate. Now, as one of the frontrunners who's on the rise, he can't disappear again.
Marco Rubio
Need: Memorable moments and policy proposals, come across as the most presidential compared to Trump and Carson
Avoid: Scuffles with Jeb Bush, questions about his youth and inexperience
Rubio had a strong showing in the last debate, and another good performance could slingshot the Florida senator even further. Though he's typically seemed more at ease on foreign policy questions, he needs to point to his experience on the economy during this face-off.
But he needs to find a way to sidestep one of the most damaging comparisons that his onetime ally-turned-enemy Jeb Bush has been leveling on him — that he bears a striking resemblance to another first-term senator who took the White House too soon and sunk the economy.
Carly Fiorina
Need: Another breakout moment like she had in the first debate
Avoid: Being on the defensive about her business background
Fiorina surged after her commanding performance in the first debate — despite being relegated to the "kiddie table" debate — and did well enough to earn her a promotion onto the main stage. In the second gathering, she had a good performance again, but hasn't capitalized on it since and has been slipping in the polls and in the national conversation.
The economy should be her place to shine though, given her business background. But she needs to push back effectively, like she has for the most part in other debates, on criticisms of her tenure at Hewlett-Packard, her ouster and resulting layoffs.
Jeb Bush
Need: A commanding performance that reassures nervous donors, tout his record as Florida governor
Avoid: Getting overshadowed by Trump and Rubio, taking on blame for his brother's economic policies
Bush has tried to assuage concerns about his candidacy lately, but when headlines are that you're downsizing and changing course, it's not welcome news.
The former Florida governor needs a strong performance probably more than anyone on the stage. He's not helped by how far he's slipped since being center stage in the previous two — he's now in fifth place in averages.
The good news for him is that his message of how he slashed spending and invigorated the Florida economy has always been central to his message, and he's released several detailed policy proposals on the economy so far that he can talk about.
The bad news — Democrats, and even some Republicans, blame his brother, former President George W. Bush, for starting the national economic slump, and don't be surprised if Trump especially points that out.
Ted Cruz
Need: Distinguish himself from other conservatives on his approach to the economy
Avoid: Taking blame for shuttering the government two years ago
Cruz has also benefited from the previous debates and is climbing in the polls. Now, Wednesday's debate gives him the opportunity to seize a top issue on Capitol Hill — the budget and the deficit.
The Texan rode a Tea Party wave to the Senate, and now he needs to set himself apart as their candidate from several other choices. The budget and debt ceiling debate and the deal between GOP leaders and the White House lets him do just that.
But it could be a double-edged sword for Cruz, too. He'll have to defend why the deal — which would avoid a damaging government shutdown — is better than the shutdown many Republicans blame him for causing two years ago because of his protests on ObamaCare.
Mike Huckabee, Chris Christie, John Kasich, Rand Paul
There's a big chasm in polling between the top-tier contenders and these bottom four who made the debate. Their challenge will be to try to take on their top rivals, seize as much of the time as they can and to stay relevant in the conversation.
All have points on the economy they'll try to make. Huckabee has long been a proponent of the flat tax. Christie will try to defend New Jersey's economy, which was strong four years ago when he considered running for president, but has now had hiccups.
Kasich's biggest task may not be touting the Ohio economy — something he's done often — but not to appear too angry. That's not a signal he's been sending though, and he could take on some of his rivals hard.
Paul needs big moments to help his sagging poll numbers, and expect him to try to seize some of Cruz's mantle on the congressional budget deal and the debt ceiling — reminding voters he's planning concrete steps to stop it.
The Undercard debate participants — Rick Santorum, Bobby Jindal, George Pataki and Lindsay Graham
The task for this quartet is simple — just try to have a knockout moment that could give them any buzz which could somehow help them into the main debate next month.
Graham and Pataki only barely qualified for the debate (former Virginia governor Jim Gilmore didn't make the cut again). Both had good performances last time, but will need to explain how they're the best pick on the economy.
Santorum — who's often pigeonholed as solely a social conservative — actually have very deep blue collar appeal, and this topic could give him a moment to shine. The loss of manufacturing jobs and how to get them back is a critical part of his stump speech.
Jindal — who had threatened to boycott the debate because of the polling criteria it used — could find himself on the defensive for Louisiana's struggling economy and budget under his watch.
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